SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY >Fassbender to star in 'Assassin's Creed' movie

Michael Fassbender has been cast to star in a movie adaptation of Ubisoft's hit video game "Assassin's Creed," Variety.com has reported.

Fassbender has been enjoying an increasing profile since taking on roles in titles such as "Inglourious Basterds," "X-Men: First Class," "Shame," "Haywire" and "Prometheus." He will next be seen in "The Counselor."

"Michael Fassbender was our first choice" to play the game's iconic hooded hero, said Jean-Julien Baronnet, CEO of Paris-based Ubisoft Motion Pictures. "Michael is an extremely smart, talented, versatile and committed actor," he was quoted as saying. Fassbender will also co-produce the film.

Ubisoft decided to use its in-house production studios to create visual effects for the movie in a bid to save costs, the BBC reported.

“Assassin's Creed” has become Ubisoft's biggest franchise over the past years, selling more than 30 million copies since 2007. Two titles, “Assassin's Creed” and “Assassin's Creed II,” have spawned a total of nine games across various platforms. The first two titles took place during the Crusades and the Renaissance, with a third title set for release in late October 2012, which will take place during the American Revolution.

The game revolves around the character Desmond Miles, a modern-day bartender who learns that his ancestors belonged to an organization of assassins which fought a covert war against the Knights Templar – which secretly holds considerable sway in today's world in the game – for control of powerful artifacts. Miles uses a device to travel back in his mind to relive memories that belonged to his assassin ancestors to help locate the artifacts.

Initial reports did not mention which setting the movie would use – the Crusades, the Renaissance or the American Revolution – and what role would Fassbender play – Miles or one of his assassin ancestors, or both.